The municipality of the Garabito canton of Puntarenas is proud to announce that the Jaco Beach community will be the first in Costa Rica to build a Civic Center for Peace. This is part of a national project that the new Ministry of Peace coordinated with the administration of President Laura Chinchilla. The goal of these centers is to remind Ticos that peace is not only worth keeping but also worth teaching.

According to a press release by the municipality of Garabito, the Civic Center for Peace will be constructed on 3,000 square meters and will cost about $3.1 million. Just like the other six centers planned in the rest of the provinces, the Jaco Beach facility will be constructed amidst green forest areas. Jaco Beach residents and tourists will be able to enjoy this center in 2014.

This new community center will house activities that the Ministry of Peace deems important to foment a peaceful philosophy across Costa Rica. Not having an army and participating in peaceful and diplomatic conflict resolution are not enough; the Ministry of Peace thinks that peace should start at the family and community levels. To this end, the new Civic Center for Peace in Jaco Beach will house the following:

• School of the Arts
• School of Music
• School of Dance
• Public Library with literary works that promote peace
• Justice Center and Court for resolution of cases related to domestic violence, child support and neighborly dispute cases
• Green areas
• Kindergarten
• Community child care center
• Skateboard park
• Basketball half-court
• Art exhibit space

The idea behind these centers is simple: If the community is involved in activities such as dance, music, arts, reading, playing basketball, and even perfecting how to transition from a 50/50 ollie to a nose grind on a skateboard, they will be more attuned to living in peace another day so that they can continue doing the same the next day. The idea of housing a family court division that solves minor conflicts is that plaintiffs and defendants going to hearings will get to see children playing in the forest and learning about the arts and thus be inspired to settle their disputes through reasonable mediation.

In essence, the 25,000 residents of the Garabito canton, most of whom live in Jaco Beach, will be invited to spend peaceful days at the Civic Center for Peace. Residents from Puntarenas and across Costa Rica as well as visitors from anywhere in the world are welcome to visit anytime.